The horizon is distinct from the clear middle ground, but everything in that large middle ground is on about the same scale; the lump of rocks at the bottom are about the same size as the rocks near the top/right, and the smoke vents are all similar. The image has a fractal quality, where you're never quite sure whether what you're looking at is close or distant.

The horizon is distinct from the clear middle ground, but everything in that large middle ground is on about the same scale; the lump of rocks at the bottom are about the same size as the rocks near the top/right, and the smoke vents are all similar. The image has a fractal quality, where you're never quite sure whether what you're looking at is close or distant.

But it is starting to work as a matte. Has the feel of those early oil film matte paintings.

Those are very good points thank you for bringing them up. I'll adjust those rock sizes and try to add more variation. The thing I was going for there was telescopic lens effect, but I guess I went too far. I was also thinking of making a cargo ship that has been fallen under molten lava. That could add more interest to the image.
Cheers.

You got it right for a telescopic lens effect. In that case I suppose the only problem might be that it's not clear that you're meant to read it that way, which could be solved by placing something very large and very blurred in the foreground, but it might not be necessary if the original intention was only to create the telescopic effect._________________Art Links Archive -- Artists and Tutorials